narrowing IRS trailing arms..HotVws article?

[hot66]

Does anyone know if the HotVws article on how to narrow IRS trailing arms is avalible on the net any where?

Has anybody on here carried this modification out?

Just looking at all the options for my rear suspension :D

[vert]

Yeah i have done quite a few and actually have a jig to do them in. The most i have narrowed them is about 20mm. It's quite involved to do and best with a jig to line it all up again. I narrow them for a friend who builds speedster replica's

[Andy White]

Hi vert,

I'm sure hot66, myself and others needing to do the same modification would really appreciate a tech article on the subject if you get a chance ;)

I'm having the same troubles myself. I think I can work out how to cut and shut the trailing arms but what happens when it comes to fitting drive shafts? I have been told that you can get 26mm shorter shafts straight from an auto bug but still haven't managed to confirm this for myself. What do you use when you've narrowed the rear 20mm either side?

Does anyone have any info on different drive shaft lengths ie. Standard vs auto, 944, 914, etc.?

Kind regards,

Andy.

p.s The narrowing IRS article was in June '94 Hot VW's but I haven't managed to find it yet. If you locate it, please let me know.

[DORIGTT]

Hey Vert,

What would you charge to narrow my semi-trailing arms and how long will it take for you to turn them around?

Thanks in advance.

Kevin J Hale


By the way, you are in the US aren't you?

[vert]

Would be easy enough to do some but unfortunately i'm in New Zealand! I'm not sure that i'll have time to do an article but i'll see what i can do. When i narrow the arms i actually move the whole axle tube (which holds the two bearings) inwards 20 mm which means the arm doesn't loose any of its strength and some extra reinforcing is done also. You can use the two short axles from an auto bug but since these are hard to get here we just get ours shortened.

[hot66]

how much would you charge for narrowing some trailing arms?

Postage from NZ to the UK isn't that much.

[Alex]

vert,

we would welcome if you did a technical article on it and forward it to us so that we can post it.

Alex

[vert]

Quite happy to do them for you, I normally charge NZ $ 90 per arm but i think you'll be surprised how much the postage will be!
The main thing is that NZ post no longer does sea mail from here and the arms are quite a weighty item.
Alex- i will see what i can do about the article, the best thing would be to do one when i narrow some arms so that i can take pictures aswell because it wouldn't be much good without them.

[hot66]

I just had front & rear sway bars sent from Austrailia by courier for AUS$158.

Don't suppose it'll be too much from NZ?

Could you supply the IRS trailing arms?

[vert]

Yeah that freight charge sounds about right, i can have a look but these arms are getting hard to find cheaply if you know what i mean. Maybe doing a couple of sets would be the way to go, let me know what you think. You could also have a look at what it wouls cost to send me yours by sea!

[Alex]

I am looking forward to the future article. Thanks vert,

Alex

[vert]

HOT 66, i phoned a local breakers yard today and i can get some used arms for NZ$ 45 each so that means the whole narrowed arm would be NZ $ 135 each plus shipping. I have never had to buy any before as the friend i narrow them for always supplies his own and i only charge him for the labor.

[hot66]

The courier I used from Austrailia was TNT. Very prompt service. I don't know what other ways there might be to send the arms.

So it looks like you could supply me with a pair of narrowed IRS VW trailing arms for about NZ$400 including delivery. That sounds OK if I've got my currancy conversions correct :)

Does anyone know if you can get custom length drive shafts?

Vert, i'll mail you direct when I've had a look at my rear suspension .

[hot66]

just been checking my suspension & wheel clearance, & the distance between my 17x7.5 et 52 cup2 wheel & the bolt on the spring plate is only about 23mm.

Narrowing the IRS trailing arms by 20mm is going to cause some problems i think.

Vert, the trailing arms you normally narrow, are they used in 'german look' applications or more to tuck in fuchs etc?

[vert]

Like i said the arms i narrow are for Porsche Speedster replicas, it allows wider rims and tires to be fitted. I can also narrow them less than 20mm as my jig allows me to set it at any distance upto 20mm. We get the driveshafts shortened by a place who specialises in rebuilding driveshafts. I would think you would be looking at least 400-450 but i cant be sure without checking on the postage.